30 Medicine-Cabinet Must-Haves You Can Get in Any Drugstore

Most likely, you’ve packed your on-bike bag with all the essentials for fueling up, minor injuries, and necessary repairs. But how complete is your medicine cabinet back at your house?

Stocking up now can save you a trip to the drugstore later—especially important if you’re just about to head to a race or prepping for a long ride. Consider these your 30 must-have items.

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Ibuprofen

For most athletes, their medicine cabinet could be whittled down to this go-to for inflammation and pain. But watch your timing, says Kristy Borawski, M.D., a urologist at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, and also an Ironman triathlete. She told Bicycling by email that she avoids ibuprofen for 24 hours surrounding a race or strenuous workout because of the potential impact on kidney health.

Another must-have in Dr. Borawski’s cabinet is this common remedy for stomach upset. It’s also handy for heartburn and nausea, and the chewable tablets are easy to take along on your rides.

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Elderberry Syrup

Although it’s been a folk remedy for centuries, elderberry seems to be experiencing a fresh burst of popularity, thanks to its helpfulness in knocking out cold and flu symptoms. It may also help reduce inflammation and treat constipation.

If you’re looking to ease pain after a tough ride and don’t want the risks of ibuprofen, Dr. Borawski suggests a painkiller like Tylenol.

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Melatonin

When your sleep is off, your athletic performance can get sluggish, too. Melatonin supplements can help, and Johns Hopkins experts advise taking them two hours before bedtime, and integrating other good sleep habits into the mix, too, like turning off bright lights and setting a regular bedtime schedule.

Derived from the witch hazel plant, this liquid helps tamp down inflammation and also has antioxidants. For those who spend a long, long time on the bike saddle, witch hazel may be useful for hemorrhoid treatment as well.

This anti-bacterial substance is designed to reduce friction between skin and clothing when you ride, and leads to far less chafing, according to Dr. Borawski. Let’s just say the names of chamois cream brands say it all, like Gooch Guard, DZNuts, and Chamois Butt’r.

Athletes know that a hot bath with this natural mineral—water-soluble magnesium—helps everything from tired muscles to sprains and bruises. But it also does much more, like taking the sting out of insect bites, and improving sleep. Just be sure to follow the directions on amount, or its laxative effect might be little too effective.

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Magnesium Oil

If you don’t have time for a soak, or need more direct muscle relaxation, magnesium oil can be very helpful for sore muscles, aches, and pains, according to certified personal trainer Jimmy Minardi, founder of Minardi Training. He told Bicycling by email that this is his go-to remedy for soothing muscle tightness.

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Cuticle Scissors

Even if they’re in bike gloves more often than not, your hands go through a lot on every intense ride, and hangnails can be a big distraction. A cuticle scissors not only lets you take care of the problem quickly, but you also have it as a tool for cutting gauze or bandages.

Another favorite for Minardi is this balm, which he rubs into his skin after a post-workout shower. It’s a mix of plant extracts and moisturizing ingredients including shea butter and coconut oil, along with some cannabis-extracted CBD to ease inflammation.

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CBD Oil or Tinctures

Speaking of CBD benefits, you can get more of them by taking a concentrated product. These substances still need more data and regulations, but Jordan Tishler, M.D., a Harvard physician and president of the Association of Cannabis Specialists, told Bicycling by phone that CBD is becoming popular with athletes thanks to its array of effects, including lowered anxiety and better immune system function.

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Tweezers

Such a simple little tool, and yet if you don’t have a pair of tweezers and need them, nothing else suffices. Bee stingers, slivers, ticks, ingrown hairs—all loom larger than life when you can’t get them out.

According to Minardi, this is another pain-relieving, moisturizing body cream with anti-inflammatory plant extracts that’s helpful for sore muscles and aching joints. Plus, with its peppermint and juniper, you’ll smell way better than most of the usual analgesic heat rub options.

Since the beginning of his career as a trainer, pro cyclist, and triathlete, Minardi has kept Arnicare on hand. He says it’s handy not just to reduce swelling and muscle stiffness, but also minimizes the effect of bruises.

One of the must-have items recommended by Cleveland Clinic, an eye wash product is necessary for emergency situations, but it can also be used for soothing irritation, removing pollen and ragweed, and simply refreshing your eyes after a smoggy ride.

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Instant Cold Pack

Guilty of an over-packed freezer? That makes an instant cold pack that doesn’t get icy until you activate it a must-have in your first-aid kit, according to Pamela Merino, M.D., a Miami-based internist.

Just as instant cold packs relieve swelling from injuries, hand and foot warmer packs like HotHands can ease numbness from those chilly morning rides. They take about 15 minutes to get truly toasty, but last for up to 10 hours after that.

Both of these substances are structural components of cartilage, which cushions the joints. Although they’re produced naturally in the body, taking some as supplements can help support the cartilage and prevent it from breaking down, Dr. Merino told Bicycling by email.

As with many other items on this list, ginger can reduce inflammation. But it can also be a handy natural remedy for other issues, Dr. Merino says, such as digestive upset. In a candy form like Gin-Gins or ginger gum, they’re easy to tuck into a pocket or under-seat bag.

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Turmeric

Another inflammation fighter, according to Dr. Merino, is turmeric root, but it’s not always easy to incorporate enough of it into your meals. She suggests taking a supplement to ensure a bigger benefit.

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First Aid Kit

A portable, well-stocked first-aid kit is crucial for every ride, according to Natasha Trentacosta, M.D., sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. She told Bicycling by email that these are especially helpful on long rides and vacations, when you might be miles from the nearest drugstore.

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Antibiotic Ointment

Even if you clean your scratches, cuts, and scrapes well, there can still be chance of infection, says Dr. Trentacosta, so have an antibiotic on hand like Bacitracin or Neosporin to put on before you bandage the wound.

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Sunscreen

If you’re outside, you’ll need sunscreen, says Dr. Trentacosta. Not only will it help prevent short-term effects like sunburn, but regular application also knocks down your risk of cumulative UV exposure, even on cloudy days. She suggest a waterproof, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

High on Dr. Borawski’s priority list is Gold Bond, available in powder and lotion form. Created to ease skin irritation, it’s also a relief for sunburn and insect bites.

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Rubbing Alcohol

Good ol’ rubbing alcohol is very useful for cleaning out cuts and scrapes, but it can also be used for homemade ice packs, according to Darria Long Gillespie, M.D., an emergency department physician. She suggests filling a freezer-suitable Ziploc with one part rubbing alcohol and three parts water. After it’s been in the freezer for a few hours, it’ll be super cold but not frozen, and that mushy consistency is perfect for wrapping around a knee or other joint.

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